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Loudly

(2,436 posts)
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 11:19 AM Aug 2013

Does the President believe in jury nullification? [View all]

President Barack Obama said Friday that NSA leaker Edward Snowden can return to the United States and appear in court and "make his case," if he "believes what he did is right."

Is the President seriously suggesting that a judge would allow a jury to consider whether the law prohibiting the leaking of secret information can be ignored, disregarded, rejected, second-guessed?

Is the President seriously suggesting that a judge would allow a jury to consider whether information which an agency of the U.S. government has classified as secret is entitled to be classified as secret?

Is the President seriously suggesting that a judge would even allow a Snowden defense team to present any such nullification arguments?

The President is a lawyer and Constitutional law lecturer. I don't know what to make of his "invitation." It seems highly disingenuous.


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It would ring more true, if it were not for our recent history of misdeeds with respect to those our hlthe2b Aug 2013 #1
They do want Snowden back so bad, they'll say anything to get him to return. RC Aug 2013 #2
Good point. Of course it's disingenuous. LuvNewcastle Aug 2013 #3
Good point! oldhippie Aug 2013 #4
That's even more disingenuous. Snowden's consciousness of guilt is obvious. Loudly Aug 2013 #6
Right! He should face the inquisition tribunal. Fleeing is a confession of heresy! Demo_Chris Aug 2013 #17
It is the right of the citizen to judge the law as well as the facts of a case. grasswire Aug 2013 #5
Where is jury nullification 'allowed' in COLGATE4 Aug 2013 #7
anything that is not prohibited by law is allowed the citizen grasswire Aug 2013 #8
Cite to the SC case? COLGATE4 Aug 2013 #10
I'd like to see that case cite also .... oldhippie Aug 2013 #12
SC specifically grasswire Aug 2013 #16
Jury nullification generally grasswire Aug 2013 #18
So yes, there is historical precedent, but ...... oldhippie Aug 2013 #19
by the way, I didn't say allowed "in" the Constitution. nt grasswire Aug 2013 #9
No, you said 'Constitutionally allowed" COLGATE4 Aug 2013 #11
no no, there is a significant difference. grasswire Aug 2013 #14
Really? I think you need to sharpen that explanation a little ... oldhippie Aug 2013 #20
only in your mind. nt COLGATE4 Aug 2013 #21
I guess his law-school training didn't stick. 1-Old-Man Aug 2013 #13
+1 nt grasswire Aug 2013 #15
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